Man accused of shooting soldier appears in court

By: JOHN HALL - Staff Writer | Tuesday, January 4, 2005 10:44 PM PST ∞

FRENCH VALLEY ---- A Lake Elsinore man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges he shot two men ---- one a soldier ---- after confronting the pair who were accompanying children toilet papering his neighborhood last week.

Aubrey Dashielle Weldon, 34, sat shackled and in an orange jail jumpsuit as his attorney, Charles Gorian, entered the pleas for him at Southwest Justice Center.

The district attorney's office has charged Weldon with assault with a deadly weapon, as well as using a firearm and causing great bodily injury.

Supervising Deputy District Attorney Valerie Zucker said outside the courtroom Tuesday that the case against Weldon is still being reviewed and prosecutors could decide to charge him with attempted murder.

As charged now, Zucker said, Weldon faces a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison if the case goes to trial and he's convicted.

If the charge is amended to an attempted murder count, Weldon could face a potential life sentence.

Weldon is accused of shooting Daniel Alvarado, 25, of Temecula in the head early last Thursday while Alvarado was accompanying a group of juveniles ---- including three of his nieces ---- as they tossed toilet paper on trees and bushes in Weldon's neighborhood.

Alvarado is a U.S. Army specialist who is home on leave after serving more than a year in Iraq, his family previously said.

He remains at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he is being treated for his injuries.

"His condition is improving," Riverside County sheriff's Cpl. Dennis Gutierrez said Tuesday. Because of that, investigators were able to interview him for the first time earlier this week, Gutierrez said.

Weldon is also charged with shooting a friend of Alvarado who was with the group last week. Robert Limon, 22, of Temecula, was grazed by a bullet allegedly fired by Weldon and his injuries are not life-threatening, authorities said.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies were called to Third Street just outside the city limits of Lake Elsinore regarding the shooting.

They found that some homes on two nearby streets, Allan Street and Conard Avenue, had been toilet-papered. Weldon's home was not among them.

Neighbors have previously said Weldon encountered the group on Allan Street and argued with the men. The group then walked away and Weldon went into his house.

Authorities say Weldon later got into his pickup and found the group on Third Street.

Weldon confronted the group and a gun he had with him was fired, injuring Alvarado and Limon, investigators said.

Weldon is scheduled to appear in court again later this month at which time a judge will hear arguments about possibly lowering the man's bail.

As of Tuesday night, Weldon was in custody at Southwest Detention Center, in lieu of $502,500 bail, jail records state.

Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com.

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